After two years as a starter, Patrick Mahomes continues to amaze.
One would think that after two seasons as a starter, a run that included one MVP campaign and a Super Bowl run, that Patrick Mahomes would be out of tricks. Not that Mahomes would ever stop pulling off the miraculous but rather that we, as observers, would stop staring with jaws dropped at the feats he’s able pull off.
Fast forward to the Kansas City Chiefs preseason and Mahomes is once again showing off for the Chiefs. Of course, there are no pass rushers here ready to take him down, but we’ve seen this so many times in the middle of a game that there’s no doubt he could do the same if the opposition was game-ready.
Check out the most recent highlight from training camp, courtesy of the Chiefs since training camp and the preseason isn’t as accessible as it normally would be during a normal year (or at least one without, say, a global pandemic).
This throw is not supposed to look easy ⏰ pic.twitter.com/MEMMCU6UEr
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 19, 2020
This play, on the surface, is nothing more than a deep preseason pass. Mahomes is wearing flags and an unmistakable yellow jersey to make sure he goes untouched. Guys are competitive, sure, but it’s definitely not a game-time scenario with that level of intensity. Even still, I’ve watched this play personally 10-12 times and can’t get enough.
It’s the ease with which Mahomes can just rear back on his heels even while rolling out in the opposite direction. It’s the courage he has to throw it as far as possible in that scenario (the preseason helps here). It’s the pinpoint accuracy even that far downfield without the ability to set his posture. It’s the arm strength and the angles and the footwork.
It’s everything I’m going to continue to say for the rest of this season and the seasons beyond. I have a feeling that this feeling will never leave, that we’ll never stop looking at Mahomes with equal parts awe and appreciation. Then again, we’re not the only ones. Listen to his teammates or coaches talk and you’ll hear the same sentiments.
Even after two full seasons as a starter, we’re still not used to this. Good thing we have another 12 seasons to let it settle in.